Swabable fluid connectors and fluid connector pairs

ABSTRACT

A first fluid connector is provided for selective interconnection to and fluid transfer with a second fluid connector. The first connector comprises a fluid passageway, an internal member and an outer collar supportably disposed about the internal member for selective advancement and retraction relative thereto. At least a portion of the fluid passageway may extend through the internal member. The outer collar may be selectively retracted to facilitate cleaning of the internal member. In some embodiments, the outer collar and internal member may be disposed so that a distal portion of the internal member is substantially flush with or a distal portion of internal member projects beyond a distal end of the outer collar when the outer collar is in a retracted position relative thereto. To facilitate cleaning, a distal end or distal portion of the internal member may be substantially closed when the first and second connectors are disconnected. The second connector may be adapted to facilitate fluid interconnection with the first connector, and may also present a cleanable distal end when disconnected.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/036,644, filed on Jan. 14, 2005, entitled“SWABABLE FLUID CONNECTORS AND FLUID CONNECTOR PAIRS,” now U.S. Pat. No.7,396,051, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of fluid connectors, and moreparticularly, to fluid connectors that may be selectively interconnectedto and disconnected from other fluid connectors for selective fluidtransfer therebetween, wherein a distal end of an internal member of atleast a first fluid connector may be readily accessed for sterilization,e.g. via an antibacterial swabbing operation, prior to interconnectionwith a second fluid connector. The inventive features are particularlyapt for use in medical liquid transfer applications, including inparticular male and female connectors employed in the administration ofmedical liquids to patients via intravascular catheters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous techniques are employed for the administration of “medicalliquids” (e.g. liquid medications and flush solutions) to a patient. Inparticular, where repeated medication infusions are required, medicalliquids are often administered via the use of a vascular access catheterthat is fluidly interconnected or interconnectable to one or moremedical liquid sources. Typically, the catheter is inserted into thevein of a patient and left there for multiple intravenous (IV) infusionsduring an extended course of medication therapy. By way of example, thetime period between IV drug infusions may be between about 4 to 24hours.

In conjunction with extended therapy applications, a desirable practiceis to disconnect a vascular catheter from a medical liquid source(s)between infusions. In this regard, most patients receiving IV medicationtherapy are ambulatory to some degree and benefit from not beingcontinuously connected to a medical liquid source(s). To facilitate theready and repeated connection/disconnection of a vascular catheter andmedical liquid source(s), while avoiding the use of needle-typearrangements (e.g. arrangements where sharp/blunt needle ends areinserted into specialized vascular catheter connection ports having apierceable/slit stopper), complimentary female and male fluid connectorsare often utilized. For purposes hereof, a “male connector” generallyrefers to any fluid connector having a member that projects into a“female connector” upon interconnection therewith, wherein fluidtransfer between the male and female connector may be realized.

In this regard, for example, a female connector may be fluidlyinterconnected as an access port to the vascular catheter and acomplimentary male connector may be fluidly interconnected or readilyinterconnectable to a medical liquid source(s). In order to maintainsterility, various female connector designs have been employed thatallow the female connector interconnection sites to be contacted with anantibacterial material (e.g. an alcohol solution) before eachinterconnection with a male connector. By way of example, U.S. Pat. Nos.6,113,068, 6,706,022 and 5,782,816 are directed to female connectorshaving swabable interconnection sites.

To date, however, a largely unaddressed circumstance of infectiousmaterial introduction to the bloodstream of a patient is when a maleconnector is used for multiple interconnections. Known male connectorsemployed for repeated interconnections (e.g. to a femaleconnector/vascular catheter arrangement) typically include a cylindricalport that is surrounded by an axially-fixed collar having internalthreading that provides a means of securely connecting the maleconnector to a female connector that has external threading. Of note,such male connectors generally have inaccessible space between theaxially-fixed collar and port. In turn, upon repeated usage of such maleconnectors, there are multiple opportunities for blood, nutritionalfluids, and other fluids which include infectious materials to dwell inthis space, and removal of such material and proper cleaning withantiseptic solutions is difficult to be effective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, a primary objective of the present inventionis to provide an improved fluid connector that facilitates cleaning(e.g. disinfecting) prior to initial and any repeated interconnection(s)with another fluid connector, thereby reducing the likelihood ofintroduction of undesired material into a fluid stream passing betweenthe connectors.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide an improvedmale connector or female connector that may be easily cleaned andreadily employed or otherwise adapted for use with a wide variety offemale connector designs or male connector designs, respectively.

An additional objective of the present invention is to provide animproved fluid connector that is not only readily cleanable but alsoeasy-to-use.

Yet a further objective of the present invention is to providecompatible fluid connector pairs (e.g., male and female connector pairs)that may be combinatively employed to reduce the likelihood ofintroduction of undesired material into a fluid stream passing betweenthe connectors.

One or more of the above-noted objectives and additional advantages arerealizable by an improved fluid connector of the present invention. Thefluid connector includes an internal member and an outer collarsupportably disposed about the internal member. A fluid passagewayextends through at least a portion of the connector. Importantly, theouter collar is disposed for selective advancement and retractionrelative to the internal member. For example, the outer collar may beslidably and/or rotatably advanced/retracted relative to the internalmember. The ability to advance/retract the collar relative to theinternal member facilitates cleaning of the connector prior tointerconnection with another connector.

In one aspect, the outer collar and internal member are preferablydisposed so that a distal end of the internal member is at leastsubstantially flush with a distal end of the outer collar when the outercollar is in a retracted position relative thereto. In certainarrangements, a distal portion of the internal member (e.g. a distal endand adjoining sidewall portion) projects beyond a distal end of theouter collar when the outer collar is in a retracted position relativethereto. Such relative positioning optimally allows the distal end ordistal portion of the internal member to be readily accessed by a userfor cleaning prior to one or repeated interconnections with one or otherfluid connectors. For example, a distal end or a distal portion of theinternal member may contacted by a swab having a disinfectant appliedthereto.

As may be appreciated, the noted cleaning capability yields an improvedfluid connector that can be employed in a manner that reduces the riskof introduction of contaminates into a fluid stream to be passed betweena pair of connectors during use. Such advantage is of particular meritin medical applications, including applications involving theadministration of one or more medical liquid(s) to a patient via anintravascular catheter fluidly interconnected to one of the fluidconnectors.

In another aspect of the inventive connector, the distal end or distalportion of the internal member of the inventive connector may beprovided to be substantially closed or closeable when the connector isdisconnected from another fluid connector. For example, the distal endor distal portion of the internal member may be provided so that it maypresent a substantially continuous surface that extends over theentirety of the distal end or distal portion when the inventiveconnector is disconnected from another fluid connector. As may beappreciated, the provision of a substantially closed or closeable,distal end or distal portion enhances the effectiveness of disinfectantswabbing.

In a related aspect, the fluid passageway of the inventive connector maybe at least partially defined by a first passageway extending through atleast a portion of the internal member. In this regard, a distal end ofthe first passageway may be defined to extend through an outer surfaceof the distal end or distal portion of the internal member, wherein thedistal end of the first passageway is either closed or closeable whenthe inventive connector is disconnected from another fluid connector,and wherein the distal end of the first passageway is either opened orselectively openable when the inventive connector is interconnected witha another fluid connector.

In one approach, the internal member may comprise a first member havingat least a distal portion of the first passageway extendingtherethrough, and a second member positioned about at least a distalportion thereof. In some embodiments utilizing this approach a distalend of the first member may be tubular and the second member maycomprise a resilient material (e.g. an elastomeric material) thatextends over the distal end of the first member to define asubstantially closed, distal end or distal portion of the internalmember. In certain arrangements, when mechanically interconnected withanother fluid connector, the distal end of the first member may forciblypenetrate through the second member (e.g. the second member may comprisea slit or be piercable by the first member), wherein the tubular distalend of the first member sealably projects into a fluid passageway of theother fluid connector to establish a fluid interconnection therebetween.In other arrangements, when mechanically interconnected with anotherfluid connector, a tubular distal end of the other connector mayforcibly penetrate through the second member (e.g. the second member maycomprise a slit or be piercable), wherein the tubular distal end of theother connector sealably projects into the tubular end of the firstmember to establish a fluid interconnection therebetween.

In other embodiments utilizing an internal member comprising first andsecond members, the first and second members may be disposed forrelative movement therebetween (e.g. relative slidable movement). Inthis regard, a closed, distal end of the first member may be provided tosubstantially fill an opening at a tubular distal end of the secondmember in a first relative position (e.g., to combinatively define asubstantially closed, distal end or distal portion of the internalmember). The first and second members may be selectively positionable todefine an access to a first passageway extending through at least aportion of the first member in a second relative position. In onearrangement, to provide the passageway access the first member may beslidably moved from an advanced first position to a retracted secondposition relative to the second member. In such an arrangement, thefirst passageway may include an axial portion and a radial portionextending through an outer, side surface of the first member in areduced distal portion thereof. In conjunction with mechanicalinterconnection to another connector the tubular distal end of thesecond member may sealably project into a fluid passageway of the otherconnector and the first member may be retracted from a first relativeposition to a second relative position, wherein fluid interconnectionbetween the two connectors may be established.

In another approach, the internal member may comprise a resilient firstmember located within a distal end of a tubular second member. Thedistal end of the first member is substantially closed. In someembodiments utilizing this approach, the first member may be provided tobe deflectable within the second member so as to define at least adistal portion of the first passageway through the tubular secondmember. When mechanically interconnected with another fluid connector, atubular distal end of the other connector may depress and therebydeflect the first member, wherein the tubular distal end of the otherconnector sealably projects into the tubular second member to establisha fluid interconnection therebetween. In other embodiments, the firstmember may be provided to define at least a distal portion of the firstpassageway therethrough. When mechanically interconnected with anotherfluid connector, a tubular distal end of the other connector mayforcibly penetrate through the distal end of the first member, whereinthe tubular distal end of the other connector sealably projects into thedistal portion of the first passageway defined by the first member toestablish a fluid interconnection therebetween.

In another aspect of the inventive connector, the outer collar of theconnector may include an interconnection surface for selectiveinterconnection of the connector to another connector. For example, whenthe outer collar is rotatably disposed about the internal member, theinterconnection surface may advantageously comprise a threaded surface,on an internal surface or external surface of the outer collar, forthreadable engagement with a complimentary, threaded surface of anotherfluid connector. In some arrangements, the distal end of theinterconnection surface may be aligned or proximally offset relative toa distal end of the internal member when the outer collar is in anadvanced position relative thereto. Such arrangements accommodate thejoint establishment of mechanical and fluid interconnections between twofluid connectors.

In other arrangements, a distal end of the interconnection surface maybe distally offset relative to a distal end of the internal member whenthe outer collar is in an advanced position relative thereto. Thesearrangements facilitate easier mechanical interconnection of theinventive connector to another connector including. For example, thenoted distal offset accommodates overlapped/underlapped interconnectedpositioning of the outer collar relative to a compatible fluid connector(e.g. via complimentary internal and external threaded surfaces or viceversa), without requiring forcible axial contact between the internalmember of the inventive connector and the other fluid connector. Furtherthe noted distal offset accommodates mechanical interconnection of theinventive connector to another fluid connector without requiringcontemporaneous fluid interconnection therebetween.

By way of example, in fluid connector embodiments utilizing an internalmember having a first member and a resilient second member disposedabout a distal end of the first member, the connector may be provided sothat upon advancement of the connector to a first interconnectedposition with another connector, (e.g. via rotational, threadedengagement therebetween), mechanical interconnection is realized freefrom fluid interconnection. Then, upon further relative advancement ofthe inventive connector to a second interconnected position, the firstmember forcibly penetrates through the second member to establish fluidinterconnection with the other connector. Similarly, in fluid connectorembodiments utilizing an internal member having a first member with aclosed, distal end moveably disposed (e.g. slidably disposed) within anopening at a tubular distal end of a second member, the connector may beprovided so that upon advancement of the connector to a firstinterconnected position with another connector (e.g. via rotational,threaded engagement), mechanical interconnection is realized free fromfluid interconnection. Then, by moving (e.g. slidably retracting) thefirst member relative to the second member an access is provided to apassageway through the first member to yield fluid interconnectionbetween the two connectors.

In another characterization of the present invention, inventiveconnector pairs adapted for selective interconnection and fluid transfertherebetween are provided. An inventive connector pair includes a firstconnector having an interconnection surface and a fluid passageway. Asecond connector may include an internal member and an outer collarsupportably disposed about the internal member for selective advancementand retraction relative thereto. Preferably, the outer collar isdisposed so that a distal end of the internal member is at leastsubstantially flush when the outer collar is in a retracted positionrelative thereto. In some arrangements, a distal portion of the internalmember (e.g. a distal end and adjoining sidewall portion) projectsbeyond a distal end of the outer collar when the outer collar is in aretracted position relative thereto. The second connector may furtherinclude a fluid passageway and interconnection surface adapted formechanical interconnection with the interconnection surface of the firstconnector. As may be appreciated, in various aspects of the inventiveconnector pair, the second connector may comprise the various featuresof the inventive fluid connector described above.

In certain embodiments, the first and second connectors may be providedso contemporaneous with mechanical interconnection therebetween, thefluid passageway of the first connector and fluid passageway of thesecond connector are fluidly interconnected. In other embodiments, thefirst and second connectors may be provided so that, after mechanicalinterconnection of the connectors, the fluid passageways thereof may beselectively, fluidly interconnected by manipulation of one of the firstand second connectors. For example, mechanical interconnection may beachieved via rotational, threaded engagement of the outer collar of thesecond connector with the first connector to a first interconnectedposition, and fluid interconnection may be achieved via furtherrotational, threaded engagement of the outer collar of the secondconnector with the first connector to a second position. In anotherapproach, mechanical interconnection may be achieved via rotational,threaded engagement of the outer collar of the second connector with thefirst connector to an interconnected position, and fluid interconnectionmay be achieved via separate relative movement of first and secondmembers comprising the internal member of the second connector.

In another aspect of an inventive connector pair, the first connectormay include a resilient member disposed within or about an opening at adistal end of the first connector. In turn, the first and secondconnectors may be provided so that, upon mechanical interconnectionbetween the first and second connectors, the resilient member isdeflected or penetrated by the internal member of the second connectorto establish a fluid interconnection therebetween. Further in thisregard, the first connector may be provided so that a distal end of thefluid passageway thereof is substantially closed by the resilient memberwhen the first connector is disconnected from the second connector. Thatis, a substantially closed distal end of the first connector may beprovided, thereby facilitating cleaning.

In one approach, the first connector may include a tubular member havingat least a portion of the fluid passageway defined therethrough. Thetubular member may disposed for forcible advancement through the distalend of the depressible member of the first connector upon mechanicalinterconnection between the first connector and male connector. Inanother approach, the first connector may include a tubular memberwithin which the depressible member is disposed, wherein at least aportion of the fluid passageway of the first connector is definedbetween the depressible member and the tubular member.

In yet another characterization of the present invention, inventiveconnector pairs are provided, wherein a first connector of each givenpair comprises an outer tubular member and an internal member having asubstantially closed or closeable distal end or distal portion whendisconnected. Further, a second connector of each given pair includes anouter tubular member and a resilient member disposed about or within adistal opening of the tubular member. Of note, a distal end or distalportion of the resilient member is substantially closed or closeablewhen disconnected. The closed-end features of the first and secondconnectors comprising each pair advantageously yield a dual-swabablearrangement. Such arrangement is further enhanced via the inclusion ofan advanceable/retractable collar in at least the first connector ofeach inventive connector pair.

As will be appreciated, an inventive method for handling at least afirst fluid connector is also provided by the present invention. Inparticular, the method includes a step of retracting an outer collar ofa first connector relative to an internal member of the connector.Preferably, upon such retraction a distal end of the internal member isat least substantially flush with a distal end of the outer collar. Incertain arrangements, upon retraction of the internal member projectsbeyond distal end of the outer collar. The method may further includethe step of cleaning the distal end or distal portion of the internalmember when the outer collar is in the retracted position, e.g. bycontacting a distal end or distal portion with a disinfectant. As may beappreciated, the retracting step may be completed by a first hand of theuser and the contacting step may be conveniently completed by a secondhand of a user, wherein the two steps may be completed separately or ina manner that is at least partially overlapping.

In one aspect, the inventive method may further include the steps ofadvancing the outer collar of the first connector relative to theinternal member to an advanced position, e.g. utilizing a first hand ofa user, and interconnecting the outer collar of the first connector to asecond fluid connector with the outer collar in the advanced position,e.g. holding the first connector in a first hand and the secondconnector in a second hand of a user. In one approach, theinterconnecting step may include the step of rotating the outer collarof the first connector relative to the other second connector. Forexample, the rotating step may include engaging an interconnectionsurface of the outer collar of the first connector (e.g. a threadedsurface) with a complimentary interconnection surface of the secondconnector (e.g. a threaded surface).

In a related aspect, the inventive method may further include the stepof establishing a fluid interconnection between the first connector andsecond connector either jointly with or separately from the step ofinterconnecting the outer collar of the first connector to the secondconnector. In either case, the establishing step may include the step ofopening a first fluid passageway that extends through at least a portionof the internal member of the first connector.

In one approach, the internal member includes a first member having atleast a portion of the first fluid passageway extending therethrough anda resilient second member disposed about a distal end of the firstmember, wherein the opening step may include a step of forciblypenetrating a distal end of the first member through the second member.In another approach, the internal member includes a first member with aclosed, distal end moveably disposed (e.g. slidably disposed) within adistal, tubular end of a second member, wherein the opening stepincludes the step of moving (e.g. slidably retracting) the first memberrelative to the second member.

As may be appreciated, the inventive method may extended to the handlinginventive fluid connector pairs, as will be further described above. Insuch arrangements, the distal ends of both connectors may be provided tobe substantially closed when disconnected, thereby facilitating cleaningof each connector prior to interconnection.

Numerous additional aspects and advantages of the present invention willbe recognized by those skilled in art upon consideration of the furtherdescription that follows. In conjunction with such description, it willalso be realized that the various inventive features can be implementedin either male or female connectors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates opposing perspective views of one embodiment of aninventive male connector and a female connector interconnectabletherewith.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the male connector embodiment ofFIG. 1.

FIGS. 3A-3D are cross sectional views of the male connector embodimentand female connector of FIG. 1, shown in progressive stages ofinterconnection.

FIG. 4 illustrates opposing perspective views of another embodiment ofan inventive male connector and another female connectorinterconnectable therewith.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the male connector embodiment ofFIG. 4.

FIGS. 6A-6D are cross sectional views of the male connector embodimentand female connector of FIG. 4, shown in progressive stages ofinterconnection.

FIG. 7 illustrates opposing perspective views of one embodiment of aninventive female connector and a male connector interconnectabletherewith.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the female connector embodiment ofFIG. 7.

FIGS. 9A-9D are cross sectional views of the male connector embodimentand female connector of FIG. 7 shown in progressive stages ofinterconnection.

FIG. 10 illustrates opposing perspective views of another embodiment ofan inventive male connector and a female connector interconnectabletherewith.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the male connector embodiment ofFIG. 10.

FIGS. 12A-12D are cross sectional views of the male connector embodimentand female connector of FIG. 10, shown in progressive stages ofinterconnection.

FIG. 13 illustrates opposing perspective views of another embodiment ofan inventive female connector and a male connector interconnectabletherewith.

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of the female connector embodiment ofFIG. 13.

FIGS. 15A-15E are cross sectional views of the female connectorembodiment and male connector of FIG. 13, shown in progressive stages ofinterconnection.

FIG. 16 illustrates opposing perspective views of another embodiment ofan inventive male connector and a female connector interconnectabletherewith.

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view of the male connector embodiment ofFIG. 16.

FIGS. 18A-18D are cross sectional views of the male connector embodimentand female connector of FIG. 16, shown in progressive stages ofinterconnection.

FIG. 19 illustrates opposing perspective views of another embodiment ofan inventive female connector and a male connector interconnectabletherewith.

FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view of the female connector embodiment ofFIG. 19.

FIGS. 21A-21D are cross sectional views of the female connectorembodiment and male connector of FIG. 19, shown in progressive stages ofinterconnection.

FIG. 22 illustrates opposing perspective views of another embodiment ofan inventive female connector and a male connector interconnectabletherewith.

FIG. 23 is a cross sectional view of the female connector embodiment ofFIG. 22.

FIGS. 24A-24D are cross sectional views of the female connectorembodiment and male connector of FIG. 22, shown in progressive stages ofinterconnection.

FIG. 25 illustrates opposing perspective views of another embodiment ofan inventive male connector and a female connector interconnectabletherewith.

FIG. 26 is a cross sectional view of the male connector embodiment ofFIG. 25.

FIGS. 27A-27D are cross sectional views of the male connector embodimentand female connector of FIG. 25, shown in progressive stages ofinterconnection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate one embodiment of a fluid connector comprisingthe present invention. In this embodiment, a male connector 10 isprovided for selective interconnection and fluid transfer with a femaleconnector 200, e.g., a female connector as described in U.S. Pat. No.6,113,068 hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Before proceeding, it should be noted that fluid connectors of thepresent invention may include male and/or female connectorimplementations. Further, such implementations may be readily adaptedfor use with a wide variety of known fluid connector types, including inparticular fluid connectors utilized in medical applications involvingthe transfer of medical liquids. In such various adaptations, fluidconnectors of the present invention facilitate cleaning by a user (e.g.the application of a disinfectant) prior to interconnection with anotherfluid connector.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, such capability may be provided bymale connector 10 via the employment of an outer collar 20 that issupportably disposed about and interconnected with an internal member 40for selective advancement and retraction relative thereto. For example,outer collar 20 may be slidably and rotatably disposed about internalmember 40. In FIG. 1, the outer collar 20 is shown in a retractedposition so that a substantially closed, distal portion of the internalmember 40 is exposed. In this position, the distal portion of internalmember 40 may be readily contacted with a disinfectant. For example, adistal end and adjoining sidewall portion of the internal member 40 maybe advantageously contacted by a fabric swab having a disinfectantapplied thereto. As will be appreciated, female connector 200 may alsopresent a substantially closed, distal end that may be readily swabbedwith a disinfectant prior to interconnection with the male connector 10.

Referring to FIG. 2, internal member 40 may comprise a tubular main body50, a resilient, closed-end sheath 60 positioned about a distal portion52 of the main body 50, and a ring member 70 located about the resilientsheath 60. The main body 50 may further include an enlarged proximalportion 54, wherein the proximal portion 54 extends through an opening22 at a proximal end of the outer collar 20. The proximal portion 54 ofmain body 50 may be provided with an annular recess 56 that extendsabout and along the proximal portion 54 of the main body 50. Theproximal portion 54, recess 56 and outer collar 20 may be sized so thata proximal end flange 24 of the outer collar 20 may travel along therecess 56 as outer collar 20 is advanced and retracted relative tointernal member 40. As shown, the proximal end flange 24 may also serveto co-axially align the outer collar 20 and internal member 40, and torestrict the relative range of advancement/retraction to the length ofthe recess 56.

A proximal end of resilient sheath 60 is restrainably engaged within anannular groove 58 of the main body 50 (e.g. utilizing hoop strength atthe proximal end of sheath 60 and/or by bonding and/or by capturebetween main body 50 and outer collar 20). Resilient sheath 60 may alsoinclude sidewall undulations so as to resiliently bias the resilientsheath 60 to the position shown in FIG. 2. A slit 62 may extend throughthe closed, distal end of the resilient sheath 60, wherein a distal endof the main body 50 may forcibly penetrate through the slit 62 at thedistal end of the resilient sheath 60. As will be further described,upon advancement of the distal end of main body 50 through slit 62 atthe distal end of resilient sheath 60 a fluid passageway extendingthrough main body 50 may be accessed for medical liquid transfer to/fromthe female connector 200 upon interconnection therewith. Upon retractionof the distal end of main body 50 through the slit 62 of resilientsheath 60, ring member 70 may act to facilitate the closure of thedistal end of resilient sheath 60 at slit 62. In this regard, theresilient nature of resilient sheath 60 may provide the spring force forclosure.

In medical applications, the proximal end 54 of main body 50 may beinterconnected (e.g. bonded) to a tubing line that is fluidlyinterconnected or interconnectable with one or more sources medicalliquid (e.g. liquid medication, saline solution, etc.) or with anintravascular catheter. In other arrangements, the proximal end 54 ofmain body 50 may be provided with a coupling member (e.g. a female luerconnector) for selective interconnection with a compatible couplingmember (e.g. a rotatable male luer) disposed at an end of a tubing linethat is connected or connectable to one or more a medical liquidssource(s) or to an intravascular catheter.

The outer collar 20 of male connector 10 is provided with aninterconnection surface 26 for selective interconnection of the maleconnector 10 with female connector 200. More particularly, theinterconnection surface 26 may be internally located and may comprise athreaded surface that is sized/shaped for threadably engaging acomplimentary-threaded, external surface 202 on female connector 200, asshown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A-3D, the use and interconnection of maleconnector 10 to female connector 200 will be described in detail.Initially, and as shown in FIG. 3A, outer collar 20 may be located in aretracted position relative to internal member 40 (e.g. via a manual,one-hand operation by a user), thereby exposing a distal end portion ofinternal member 40 for application of a disinfectant thereto (e.g. via amanual, other-hand operation by the user). Similarly, disinfectant maybe applied to a distal end of a resilient member 210 located within anopening at a distal end of a tubular member 220 comprising femaleconnector 200 (e.g. via a manual, two-handed operation by the user).

As shown in FIG. 3A, female connector 200 may include a tubular shankmember 242 fixedly interconnected to tubular member 220 via a basemember 244. For example, shank member 242 and base member 244 may beintegrally formed with a fluid passageway extending therethrough, andtubular member 220 may be secured to base member 244. Base member 244may be further provided with a proximal, tubular end portion having aninternally threaded surface for selective interconnection with anotherconnector (e.g. a threaded male connector provided at an end of a tubingline that is interconnected or interconnectable with an intravascularcatheter or one or more medical liquid source(s)). An opening 246 may beprovided at a distal end of shank member 242, and a resilient sheath 250may be disposed about the shank member 242 and operatively interfacedwith resilient member 210 via intermediate member 270. Resilient sheath250 and/or resilient member 210 may be slit (e.g. pre-pierced) orpierceable at their distal ends to allow the distal end of shank member242 to forcibly penetrate therethrough when interconnected to maleconnector 10. Resilient sheath 250 is provided to apply a spring-loadingforce to resilient member 210 via intermediate member 270, whereinresilient member 210 is maintained in the position shown in FIG. 3A(i.e. resilient member 210 substantially fills the distal end opening offemale connector 200) when not interconnected to male connector 10. Inthis regard, resilient sheath 250 includes undulations 252, wherein theresilient sheath 250 is depressible in an accordion-like manner.

FIGS. 3B-3D illustrate the progression of interconnection of maleconnector 10 to female connector 200. In FIG. 3B outer collar 10 hasbeen advanced relative to internal member 40 and threadably rotated toan initial interconnection position relative to female connector 200. Inthe position shown in FIG. 3B, the distal end of internal member 40 hasjust contacted the distal end of resilient member 210. Of note, such aninitial interconnection position may be achieved without the need toovercome any spring-loading force. Further, it may be noted that in theposition shown in FIG. 3B, the male connector 10 and female connector200 may be advantageously mechanically interconnected without theestablishment of a fluid interconnection therebetween. Such advantagesmay be realized in the illustrated arrangement due to the distallyoffset location of the distal end of the interconnection surface 26relative to the distal end of the internal member 40 when outer collar20 is in an advanced position. In other modified arrangements the distalend of interconnection surface 26 may be located so as to be aligned orproximally offset relative to the distal end of internal member 40 whenthe outer collar 20 is in an advanced position. As will be appreciated,such modified arrangements may provide for the contemporaneousestablishment of mechanical and fluid interconnections between themodified male connector and a female connector.

In FIG. 3C, outer collar 20 has been rotatably advanced further ontofemale connector 200 to an advanced interconnection position relative toFIG. 3B (e.g. by a user holding female connector 20 with one hand androtatably advancing the outer collar 20 with another hand), therebycausing the distal end of internal member 40 to depress resilient member210 inwardly within female connector 10 against the spring-loading forceapplied by resilient sheath 250. Further, the distal end of main body 50is shown forcibly-penetrated into slit 62 of flexible sheath 60, and thedistal end of shank member 242 is shown forcibly-penetrated into slit212 of resilient member 210. Each of the above-noted forciblepenetration actions are advantageously achieved jointly with therotatable, threaded advancement of outer collar 20 of male connector 10relative to female connector 200.

FIG. 3D illustrates male connector 10 in a further interconnectedposition on female connector 200. That is, outer collar 20 has beenrotatably advanced to a further advanced location relative to that shownin FIG. 3C, wherein the distal end of the tubular main body 50 of theinternal member 40 has sealably engaged the spring-loaded resilientmember 210, and wherein the distal end of shank member 242 is locatedwithin the distal end of tubular main body 50 of the internal member 40to establish a fluid interconnection between the male connector 10 andfemale connector 200. In this regard, the shank member 242 may betapered and sized relative to the distal end of tubular main body 50 tofacilitate the establishment of a fluid interconnection therebetween. Aswill be appreciated, in this position fluid transfer between maleconnector 10 and female connector 200 may be carried out.

For example, a liquid medication may be administered to a patient viathe male connector 10, female connector 200 and an intravascularcatheter interconnected thereto, followed by a saline flush solutionadministered therethrough. Thereafter, the male connector 10 and femaleconnector 200 may be disconnected by rotation of the outer collar 20relative to the female connector 200. Subsequently, if furtheradministration of medical liquid is desired utilizing male connector 10and/or female connector 20, the male connector 10 and/or femaleconnector 20 may be disinfected and reconnected to a female connector200 as described above in relation to FIGS. 3A-3D.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate another embodiment of an inventive maleconnector 100 adapted for selective interconnection with and fluidtransfer between another type of a female connector 300, e.g. a femaleconnector as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,816, hereby incorporatedby reference in its entirety. As shown in FIG. 4, male connector 100includes an outer collar 120 that is supportably disposed about andinterconnected with an internal member 140 for selective advancement andretraction relative thereto. For example, outer collar 120 may beslidably and rotatably disposed about internal member 140. In FIG. 4,the outer collar 120 is shown in a retracted position so that asubstantially closed, distal portion of the internal member 140 isexposed. In this position, the closed, distal portion of internal member140 may be disinfected or otherwise cleaned. For example, the distal endand adjoining sidewall portion of internal member 140 may beadvantageously contacted by a fabric swab having a disinfectant appliedthereto. As shown, the female connector 300 may also present asubstantially closed, distal end that may be swabbed with a disinfectantprior to interconnection with male connector 100.

Referring to FIG. 5, internal member 140 may comprise a tubular mainbody 150 having a closed, distal end, a semi-rigid, tubular sheath 160positioned about a reduced distal portion 152 of the main body 150, andoptional sealing members 180 located about the distal portion 152 ofmain body 150. In addition to the reduced distal portion 152, the mainbody 150 may also include an enlarged proximal portion 154, wherein theproximal portion 154 is located outside of an opening 122 at a proximalend of the outer collar 120. The distal portion 152 of main body 150 andtubular sheath 160 may be sized so as to permit slidingadvancement/retraction of the distal portion 152 within the tubularsheath 160, wherein the closed, distal end of tubular main body 150substantially fills an opening 162 at the distal end of tubular sheath160 when the main body 150 is located in an advanced position relativeto the tubular sheath 160, thereby selectively yielding an internalmember 140 having a substantially closed, distal end.

A stepped-in or reduced portion 156 may be provided near the distal endof main body 150 with one or a plurality of radial passageways 158extending from an internal passageway of tubular main body 150 to anouter surface of the stepped-in portion 156. As will be furtherdescribed, upon retraction of the main body 150 relative to tubularsheath 160, access to the fluid passageways extending through internalmember 140 may provide for fluid transfer to/from female connector 300upon interconnection therewith. In this regard, the proximal end 154 ofmain body 150 may be interconnected (e.g. bonded) with a tubing linethat is fluidly interconnected with one or more fluid sources, (e.g.medical liquids) or an intravascular catheter.

In order to restrict main body 150 from being removable (e.g. withdrawn)from tubular sheath 160, an outer annular flange 159 may be provided onthe main body 150 and a complimentarily annular recess 166 may beprovided in opposing relation on tubular sheath 160 to receive theannular flange 159. As may be appreciated, the axial length of recess166 accommodates a corresponding range of slidableadvancement/retraction of main body 150 relative to tubular sheath 160,and the proximal end wall of recess 166 restricts main body 150 fromwithdrawal from tubular sheath 160. While not shown, it may also bepreferable to provide a spring-loading member to bias main body 150 intoan advanced position relative to tubular sheath 160 (e.g. a springmember may be interconnected to and extend between a proximal end oftubular sheath 160 and proximal end 154 of main body 150).

The outer collar 120 is provided with a first internal interconnectionsurface 126 for selective interconnection of the male connector 100 tofemale connector 300. More particularly, the internal interconnectionsurface 126 may comprise a threaded surface that is sized/shaped forthreadably engaging an interconnection surface 302 of female connector300, (e.g. a complimentary threaded surface 302 on the outside surfaceof female connector 300 as shown in FIG. 4). Further, the outer collar120 may be provided with a second internal interconnection surface 128for selective interconnection with a complimentary externalinterconnection surface 164 provided on tubular sheath 160.Specifically, and as shown in FIG. 5, the second internalinterconnection surface 128 and external interconnection surface 164 maycomprise complimentary, threaded surfaces sized/shaped for threadableengagement.

In this regard, and referring now to FIGS. 6A-6D, interconnection ofmale connector 100 to female connector 300 will be described in furtherdetail. Initially, and as shown in FIG. 5A, the collar 120 may belocated in a retracted position relative to internal member 140, and themain body 150 may be located in an advanced position relative to tubularsheath 160, wherein a substantially closed, distal end portion ofinternal member 140 is exposed for application of a disinfectantthereto. Also, disinfectant may be applied to a closed, distal end of aresilient member 310 located within an opening at a distal end of atubular member 320 comprising female connector 300.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the resilient member 310 of the female connector300 may be interconnected at a proximal end to the tubular member 320.For example, the resilient member 310 may be interconnected at aproximal end to a base member 324 that is rigidly interconnected to thetubular member 320. Further, resilient member 310 and tubular member 320may be shaped so that resilient member 310 is captured within tubularmember 320. As illustrated, a passageway extends from the proximal endof base member 324 through the tubular member 320. Of further note, theresilient member 310 may be sized/shaped relative to the tubular member320 so that a portion of the resilient member 310 may be deflectedwithin the tubular member 320 in response to being depressed at a distalend thereof. In other embodiments, the resilient member 310 may comprisea compressible material that compresses upon the application of a forceapplied to a distal end thereof. In any case, the resilient member 310is of a resilient nature so that the distal end thereof is maintained inthe position shown in FIG. 6A when the female member 300 is notinterconnected to male connector 100 (e.g. the distal end of resilientmember 310 substantially fills and thereby presents a substantiallyclosed distal end within tubular member 320).

FIGS. 6B-6D illustrate the progression of interconnection of maleconnector 100 to female connector 300. In FIG. 6B, outer collar 120 hasbeen advanced relative to internal member 140 and threadably rotatedinto threadable engagement with female connector 300. In the positionshown in FIG. 6B, the substantially closed, distal end of internalmember 140 has just contacted the distal end of resilient member 310. Ofnote, such interconnection may be achieved without the need to overcomeany spring-loading. Further, it may be noted that in the position shownin FIG. 6B, the male connector 100 and female connector 300 may beadvantageously mechanically interconnected without the establishment ofa fluid interconnection therebetween.

In FIG. 6C, internal member 140 is shown in an advanced positionrelative to FIG. 6B, wherein the substantially closed, distal end ofinternal member 140 has begun to depress resilient member 310 inwardlywithin female connector 300. Such advancement is achieved by therotational advancement of internal member 140 relative to outer collar120. Specifically, the external interconnection surface 164 of tubularsheath 160 has been threadably advanced relative to the internalinterconnection surface 128 of the outer collar 120. To achieve suchadvancement, a user may grasp outer collar 120 with one hand whilerotating sheath 160 with the other hand. In the later regard, outer fins168 or other surface contouring may be provided at a proximal end oftubular sheath 160 to facilitate manual rotation.

FIG. 6D illustrates internal member 140 in a further-advanced positionrelative to FIG. 6C, wherein the distal end of internal member 140 hasfurther depressed the resilient member 310 into tubular member 320,thereby causing the resilient member 310 to deflect within the tubularmember 320. Such advancement is achieved by further rotation of tubularsheath 160 relative to outer collar 120. Of further note, the sidewallsurface along a distal portion of tubular sheath 160 has sealablyengaged the inner periphery of the distal opening of tubular member 320.To facilitate such engagement, the distal portion of tubular sheath 160may be tapered and/or may comprise a semi-rigid material.

As further shown in FIG. 6D, the main body 150 has been separately,slidably retracted relative to tubular sheath 160, thereby providingaccess to a fluid passageway that extends from the proximal end to thedistal end of internal member 140. More particularly, the fluidpassageway extends through opening 162 of tubular sheath 160, betweenthe tubular sheath 160 and stepped-in portion 156 of main body 150, andthrough radial passageways 158 into the internal passageway of tubularmain body 150. Due to the deflection of resilient member 310, the fluidpassageway of internal member 140 is now in fluid communication with afluid passageway extending through female connector 300 as shown.

In this position, fluid transfer between male connector 100 and femaleconnector 200 may be carried out. For example, in a medical applicationa liquid medication may be administered to a patient via the maleconnector 100, female connector 300 and an intravascular catheterinterconnected thereto, followed by a saline flush solution administeredtherethrough. Thereafter, the male connector 100 and female connector300 may be disconnected by rotation of outer collar 120 relative to thefemale connector 300. Preferably, internal member 140 is also rotatablyretracted relative to outer collar 120. Further main body 150 ispreferably returned to an advanced position relative to tubular sheath160 (e.g. either manually or via a spring-loading member), wherein thedistal end of main body 150 is again located in the opening 162 of thetubular sheath 160 to present a substantially, closed distal portion oninternal member 140. Subsequently, if a further administration ofmedical liquid is desired utilizing male connector 100 and/or femaleconnector 300, the male connector 100 and/or female connector 300 may bedisinfected via a swabbing operation and reconnected as described abovein relation to FIGS. 6A-6D.

As may be appreciated, in certain applications it may be preferable toinitially, rotatably advance tubular sheath 160 relative to outer collar120. Following such advancement, male connector 100 may then berotatably interconnected to female connector 300, wherein the distal endof internal member 140 will depress the distal end of depressible member310 of the female connector 300 into the position as shown in FIG. 6D.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an embodiment of a female connector 400 adaptedfor selective interconnection and fluid transfer with a male connector500. As shown in FIG. 8, female connector 400 includes an outer collar420 that is supportably disposed about and interconnected with aninternal member 440 for selective advancement and retraction relativethereto. For example, outer collar 420 may be slidably and rotatablydisposed about internal member 440. In FIGS. 7 and 8 the outer collar420 is shown in a retracted position so that a substantially closed,distal end of the internal member 440 is readily accessible. In thisposition, the closed, distal end of internal member 440 may bedisinfected or otherwise cleaned. For example, the distal end ofinternal member 440 may be advantageously contacted by a fabric swabhaving a disinfectant applied thereto. As shown, the male connector 500may be also present a substantially closed, distal end that may beswabbed with a disinfectant prior to interconnection with femaleconnector 400.

Referring to FIG. 8, the internal member 440 may comprise a tubularshank member 442 fixedly interconnected to a tubular member 448 and abase member 444. For example, the shank member 442, base member 444 andtubular member 448 may be integrally formed. A fluid passageway extendsfrom an opening 446 at a distal end of shank member 442 to a proximalend of the base member 444. As shown, base member 444 may be furtherprovided with a proximal, tubular end portion having an internallythreaded surface for selective interconnection with a compatibleconnector (e.g. a connector provided at an end of a tubing line that isinterconnected or interconnectable with a medical liquid source). Aresilient member 450 may be disposed about the distal end of shankmember 442. Further, the resilient member 450 may extend along andbetween the tubular member 448 and shank member 442, wherein a proximalend of the resilient member 450 may be interconnected to the base member444. In some arrangements, a distal end opening of tubular member 448may be reduced so as to capture a distal end of resilient member 450therewithin. The distal end of resilient member 450 may be slit (e.g.partially or fully pre-pierced) or piercable to allow the distal end ofshank member 442 to forcibly penetrate therethrough when interconnectedto female connector 500. The resilient member 450 may be provided withsidewall undulations 452 so as to facilitate depression of the resilientmember 450 within tubular member 448 (e.g., in an accordion-likemanner), and to otherwise bias the distal end of resilient member 450 tothe position shown in FIG. 9A (i.e. substantially flush with or slightlyprojecting from a distal end opening of the tubular member 448) when notinterconnected to male connector 500. As shown, the distal end ofresilient member 450 substantially fills the distal opening of tubularmember 448.

The outer collar 420 is provided with a first internal interconnectionsurface 426 for selective interconnection of the female connector 400 tomale connector 500. More particularly, the internal interconnectionsurface 426 may comprise a threaded surface that is size/shaped forthreadably engaging an interconnection surface 502 of male connector500, e.g. a complimentary threaded surface 502 on the outside surface ofmale connector 500 as shown in FIG. 7.

Referring now to FIG. 9A, male connector 500 may comprise a tubular,outer member 520. A resilient member 510 may be provided at a reduced,distal end of the outer member 520. As illustrated, resilient member 510may present a closed distal end on male connector 500. Resilient member510 may be slit (e.g. prepierced) or piercable to allow the distal endof shank member 442 of female connector 400 to be forcibly penetratetherethrough when male connector 500 is interconnected to femaleconnector 400. Male connector 500 further includes an tubular, internalmember 530 secured within outer member 520. Internal member may beoptionally sized to matingly receive a distal end of shank member 442upon interconnection of female connector 400 to male connector 500.

FIGS. 9B-9D illustrate the progression of interconnection of femaleconnector 400 and male connector 500. In FIG. 9B, outer collar 420 offemale connector 400 has been rotatably advanced relative to internalmember 440 and rotated into threadable engagement upon male connector500. In the position shown in FIG. 9B, the distal end of internal member440 has just contacted the distal end of resilient member 510. Of note,such interconnection may be achieved without the need to overcome anyspring-loading force. Further, it may be noted that in the positionshown in FIG. 9B, female connector 400 and male connector 500 may beadvantageously mechanically interconnected without the establishment ofa fluid interconnection therebetween.

In FIG. 9C outer collar 420 has been rotatably advanced further ontomale connector 500 to an advanced interconnection position relative tothat shown in FIG. 9B (e.g. by a user holding male connector 500 withone hand and rotatably advancing the outer collar 420 with anotherhand), thereby causing the distal end of resilient member 510 to depressresilient member 450 inwardly within tubular member 448 against thespring-loading force applied by resilient member 450. Further, thedistal end of shank member 442 is shown forcibly-penetrated through theresilient member 450 and penetrating resilient member 510. Such forciblepenetration is advantageously achieved in conjunction with therotatable, threaded advancement of outer collar 420 of female connector400 relative to male connector 500.

FIG. 9D Illustrates female connector 500 in a further interconnectedposition with male connector 400. That is, outer collar 420 has beenrotatably advanced to a further advanced position relative to that shownin FIG. 9C, wherein a distal end of shank member 442 has sealablyextended through resilient member 450 and resilient member 510 to aposition within the distal end of internal member 530 of the maleconnector 500, thereby establishing a fluid interconnection between thefemale connector 400 and male connector 500. As shown, shank member 442may be tapered and sized relative to the distal end of internal member530 to facilitate the fluid interconnection therebetween.

As will be appreciated, in the position shown in FIG. 9D fluid transferbetween the female connector 400 and male connector 500 may be carriedout. For example, a liquid medication may be administered to a patientvia the female connector 400, male connector 500 and an intravascularcatheter interconnected thereto, followed by a saline flush solutionadministered therethrough. Thereafter, the female connector 400 and maleconnector 500 may be disconnected by rotation of outer collar 420relative to the male connector 500. Upon doing so, the distal ends ofresilient member 450 and resilient member 510 will each again besubstantially closed due to their resilient nature. Subsequently,if/when a further administration of a medical liquid utilizing femaleconnector 400 and/or male connector is desired, female connector 400and/or male connector may be disinfected and reconnected as described inrelation to FIG. 9A-9D.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate another embodiment of a fluid connectorcomprising the present invention. In this embodiment, a male connector600 is provided for selective interconnection and fluid transfer with afemale connector 700, e.g., a female connector as described in U.S. Pat.No. 6,706,022, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The male connector 600 includes an outer collar 620 that is supportablydisposed about and interconnected with an internal member 640 forselective advancement and retraction relative thereto. For example,outer collar 620 may be slidably and rotatably disposed about internalmember 640. In FIGS. 10 and 11 the outer collar 620 is shown in aretracted position so that a substantially closed, distal portion of theinternal member 640 is exposed. In this position, the distal portion ofinternal member 640 may be readily contacted with a disinfectant. Forexample, a distal end and adjoining sidewall portion of the internalmember 640 may be advantageously contacted by a fabric swab having adisinfectant applied thereto. As will be appreciated, the femaleconnector 700 may present a substantially closed distal end that mayalso be readily swabbed with a disinfectant prior to interconnectionwith the male connector 600.

Referring to FIG. 11, internal member 640 may comprise a tubular mainbody 650 and a resilient, closed-end sheath 660 positioned about adistal portion 652 of the main body 650. The main body 650 may furtherinclude an enlarged proximal portion 654, wherein the proximal portion654 extends through an opening 622 at a proximal end of the outer collar620. The proximal portion 654 of main body 650 may be provided with anannular recess 656 that extends about and along the proximal portion 654of the main body 650. The proximal portion 654, recess 656 and outercollar 620 may be sized so that a proximal end flange 624 of the outercollar 620 may travel along the recess 656 as outer collar 620 isadvanced and retracted relative to internal member 640. As shown, theproximal end flange 624 may also serve to co-axially align the outercollar 620 and internal member 640, and to restrict the relative rangeof advancement/retraction to the length of the recess 656.

A proximal end of resilient sheath 660 is restrainably engaged within anannular groove 658 of the main body 650 (e.g. utilizing hoop strength atthe proximal end of sheath 660 and/or by bonding and/or by capturebetween main body 650 and outer collar 620). A slit 662 may extendthrough the closed, distal end of the resilient sheath 660, wherein adistal end of the main body 650 may forcibly penetrate through the slit662 at the distal end of the resilient sheath 660. As will be furtherdescribed, upon advancement of the distal end of main body 650 throughslit 662 a fluid passageway extending through main body 650 may beaccessed for fluid transfer with the female connector 700 uponinterconnection therewith. Upon retraction of the distal end of mainbody 650 through the slit 662 of resilient sheath 660, the distal end offlexible member 660 will automatically close at slit 662. In thisregard, the resilient nature of resilient sheath 660 may provide thespring force for closure.

In medical applications, the proximal end 654 of main body 650 may beinterconnected (e.g. bonded) to a tubing line that is fluidlyinterconnected or interconnectable with one or more sources medicalliquid (e.g. liquid medication, saline solution, etc.) or with anintravascular catheter. In other arrangements, the proximal end 654 ofmain body 650 may be provided with a coupling member (e.g. a female luerconnector) for selective interconnection with a compatible couplingmember (e.g. a rotatable male luer) disposed at an end of a tubing linethat is connected or connectable to one or more a medical liquidssource(s) or to an intravascular catheter.

The outer collar 620 of male connector 600 includes a stepped-outportion at its distal end to matingly conform with the shape presentedby a distal end of female connector 700. Further, the male connector 600is provided with an interconnection surface 626 for selectiveinterconnection of the male connector 600 with female connector 700.More particularly, and the interconnection surface 626 may be internallylocated proximal to said stepped-out portion and may comprise a threadedsurface that is sized/shaped for threadably engaging acomplimentary-threaded, external surface 702 on female connector 700 asshown in FIG. 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 12A-12D, the use and interconnection of maleconnector 600 to female connector 700 will be described in detail.Initially, and as shown in FIG. 12A, outer collar 620 may be located ina retracted position relative to internal member 640 (e.g. via a manual,one-hand operation by a user), thereby exposing a distal end portion ofinternal member 640 for application of a disinfectant thereto (e.g. viaa manual, other-hand operation by the user). Similarly, disinfectant maybe applied to a distal end of a resilient member 710 located within anopening at a distal end of a tubular member 720 comprising femaleconnector 700 (e.g. via a manual, two-handed operation by the user).

As shown in FIG. 12A, tubular member 720 may comprise a proximal baseportion 724 and distal end portion 728. The base portion 724 includes aproximal, tubular end that may be internally threaded forinterconnection with a compatible coupler (e.g. for fluidinterconnection to an intravascular catheter or medical liquidsource(s)). The resilient member 710 of female connector 700 is of atubular construction with a closed distal end, and may be interconnectedat a proximal end to base portion 724 of the tubular member 720, whereina fluid passageway extends from the proximal end of the base portion 724through the resilient member 710 to a distal end thereof. As shown, anopenable/closable slit 712 is provided through the distal end ofresilient member 710. The resilient member 710 comprises sidewallundulations 714 and is otherwise sized relative to tubular member 720 sothat the resilient sidewall member 710 may be slightly depressed withinthe tubular member 720 upon interconnection of the female connector 200to male connector 600. The distal end portion 728 of tubular member 720is shaped to interface with a distal end portion of the resilient member710. In particular, the distal end portion 728 is stepped-in so as torestrain, or capture, the resilient member 710 within the tubular member720. Of further note, the distal end portion 728 is shaped to allow thedistal end of resilient member 710 to open and flex outward at slit 712upon interconnection of the female connector 700 to the male connector600. Due to the resilient nature of resilient member 710 the distal endthereof is maintained in the position shown in FIG. 12A when the femaleconnector 700 is not interconnected to the male connector 600.

FIGS. 12B-12D illustrate the progression of interconnection of maleconnector 600 to female connector 700. In FIG. 12B, outer collar 620 hasbeen axially advanced relative to internal member 640, (e.g. by a userholding female connector 700 with one hand and advancing the outercollar 620 with another hand), wherein the distal end of internal member640 has just contacted the distal end of resilient member 710.

In FIG. 12C, outer collar 620 has been rotatably advanced onto femaleconnector 700 (e.g. by a user holding female connector 700 with one handand rotatably advancing the outer collar 620 with another hand), therebycausing the distal end of the main body 650 to forcibly-penetrate theresilient sheath 660 and depress resilient member 710 inwardly withinfemale connector 700 against a spring-loading force applied by resilientmember 710. Such action is advantageously achieved jointly with therotatable, threaded advancement of outer collar 620 of male connector600 relative to female connector 700.

FIG. 12D illustrates male connector 600 in a further interconnectedposition on female connector 700. That is, outer collar 620 has beenrotatably advanced to a further advanced location relative to that shownin FIG. 12C, wherein the distal end of tubular member 720 has sealablyengaged the spring-loaded, resilient sheath 660 of the internal member640, and wherein the slit 712 of resilient member 710 has opened/flexedoutward and the distal end of main body 650 has been forcibly penetratedthrough the slit 712 and is located within the tubular resilient member710. As will be appreciated, in this position fluid transfer betweenmale connector 600 and female connector 700 may be carried out.

For example, a liquid medication may be administered to a patient viathe male connector 600, female connector 700 and an intravascularcatheter interconnected thereto, followed by a saline flush solutionadministered therethrough. Thereafter, the male connector 600 and femaleconnector 700 may be disconnected by rotation of the outer collar 620relative to the female connector 700. Upon doing so, the distal ends ofresilient sheath 660 and resilient member 710 will automatically closedue to their resilient nature. Subsequently, if further administrationof medical liquid is desired utilizing male connector 600 and/or femaleconnector 700, the male connector 600 and/or female connector 700 may bedisinfected and reconnected as described above in relation to FIGS.12A-12D.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate another female connector 800 adapted forselective interconnection and fluid transfer with a male connector 900.As shown in FIG. 14, female connector 800 includes an outer collar 820supportably disposed about and interconnected with an internal member840 for selective advancement and retraction relative thereto. Forexample, outer collar 820 may be slidably and rotatably disposed aboutinternal member 840. In FIGS. 13 and 14 the outer collar 820 is shown ina retracted position so that a substantially closed, distal end of theinternal member 840 is exposed. In this position, the closed, distal endof internal member 840 may be disinfected or otherwise cleaned. Forexample, the distal end of internal member 840 may be advantageouslycontacted by a fabric swab having a disinfectant applied thereto.Similarly, disinfectant may be applied to a distal end of male connector900.

Referring to FIG. 14, the internal member 840 may comprise a tubularshank member 842 fixedly interconnected to a tubular member 848 via abase member 844. For example, the shank member 842 and base member 844may be integrally formed. A fluid passageway extends from an opening 846at a distal end of shank member 842 to a proximal end of the base member844. As shown, base member 844 may be further provided with a proximaltubular end portion having an internally threaded surface for selectiveinterconnection with a compatible coupler (e.g. a coupler provided at anend of a tubing line that is interconnected or interconnectable with amedical liquid source or intravascular catheter). A resilient sheath 850may be disposed about the shank member 842 and operatively interfacedwith a resilient member 810 via an intermediate member 870. Resilientsheath 850 and resilient member 810 may be slit (e.g. pre-pierced) orpierceable to allow the distal end of shank member 842 to be forciblyadvanced therethrough when interconnected to male connector 900.Resilient sheath 850 includes undulations 852 to apply a spring-loadingforce to resilient member 810 via intermediate member 870, whereinresilient member 810 is maintained in the position shown in FIG. 14(i.e. within the distal end opening of female connector 800) when notinterconnected to male connector 900.

The outer collar 820 is provided with a first internal interconnectionsurface 826 for selective interconnection of the female connector 800 tomale connector 900. More particularly, and as shown in FIG. 14, theinternal interconnection surface 826 may comprise a threaded surfacethat is sized/shaped for threadably engaging an interconnection surface902 of male connector 900, e.g. a complimentary threaded surface 902 onthe outside surface of male connector 900, as shown in FIG. 13.

Referring now to FIGS. 15A-15E, the use and interconnection of femaleconnector 800 to male connector 900 will be described in detail.Initially, and as shown in FIG. 15A, outer collar 820 may be located inthe retracted position relative to internal member 840 (e.g. via amanual, one-hand operation by a user), thereby exposing a distal end ofinternal member 840 for application of a disinfectant thereto (e.g. viamanual, other-hand operation by the user). Similarly, a disinfectant maybe applied to a distal end of a resilient member 960 located within anopening at a distal end of a tubular member 940 comprising a femaleconnector 900 (e.g. via a manual, two-handed operation by the user).

As shown in FIG. 15A, the male connector 900 may further comprise atubular main body 950, wherein the resilient member 960 is positionedabout a distal portion 952 of the main body 950. The main body 950 mayfurther include an enlarged proximal portion 954, wherein the proximalportion 954 extends through an opening 942 at a proximal end of thetubular member 940. In the described embodiment, tubular member 940 isfixedly interconnected to the proximal portion 954 of the main body 950.However, it should be noted that in a modified arrangement, the mainbody 950 and tubular member 940 may be provided so that the tubularmember 940 may be slidably and rotatably advanced and retracted relativeto the main body 950. For example, the proximal portion 954 may beprovided with an annular recess 956, wherein the proximal portion 954,recess 956 and tubular member 940 may be sized so that a proximal endflange 944 of the tubular member 940 may travel along the recess 956 astubular member 940 is advanced and retracted relative to a main body950.

Referring further to FIG. 15A, it can be seen that a proximal end of theresilient member 960 is restrainable engaged within an annular groove958 of the main body 950 (e.g. utilizing hoop strength at the proximalend of resilient member 960 and/or bonding and/or by capture betweenmain body 950 and tubular member 940). A slit 962 may extend through aclosed, distal end of resilient member 960.

FIGS. 15B-15E illustrate the progression of interconnection of femaleconnector 800 to male connector 900. In FIG. 15B, outer collar 820 offemale connector 800 has been axially advanced relative to internalmember 840, so that the distal end of internal member 840 has justcontacted the distal end of resilient member 960 (e.g. by a user holdingmale connector 900 with one hand and advancing the outer collar 820 withanother hand).

In FIG. 15C, outer collar 820 has been rotatably advanced further ontomale connector 900 to an advanced interconnection position relative toFIG. 15B (e.g. by a user holding male connector 900 with one hand androtatably advancing the outer collar 820 with another hand), therebycausing the distal end of resilient member 960 to begin to depressresilient member 810 inwardly within female connector 800 against thespring-loading force applied by resilient sheath 850 thereagainst.Further, the distal end of the main body 950 of the male connector 900has begun to forcibly penetrate the slit 962 at the distal end of theresilient member 960.

In FIG. 15D, outer collar 820 has been rotatably advanced to a furtherinterconnected position on male connector 900. As illustrated, thedistal end of main body 950 has now completely opened the slit 962 atthe distal end of resilient member 960 and has further depressed theresilient member 810 within the female connector 800. In turn, thedistal end of shank member 942 has begun to forcibly penetrate throughthe resilient sheath 850 and resilient member 810.

FIG. 15E Illustrates female connector 800 in a further interconnectedposition with male connector 900. That is, outer collar 820 has beenrotatably advanced to a further advanced position relative to that shownin FIG. 15D, wherein a distal end of tubular main body 950 has sealablyengaged the spring-loaded resilient member 810 and/or the distal end oftubular main body 848 has sealably engaged spring-loaded resilientmember 960, and wherein a distal end of shank member 842 has forciblypenetrated through resilient sheath 850 and depressible member 810 to aposition within the distal end of main body 950 of the male connector900, thereby establishing a fluid interconnection between the femaleconnector 800 and male connector 900. As shown, shank member 842 may betapered and sized relative to distal end of main body 950 to facilitatethe fluid interconnection therebetween. As will be appreciated, in thisposition fluid transfer between the female connector 800 and maleconnector 900 may be carried out.

For example, a liquid medication may be administered to a patient viathe female connector 800, male connector 900 and an intravascularcatheter interconnected thereto, followed by a saline flush solutionadministered therethrough. Thereafter, the female connector 800 and maleconnector 900 may be disconnected by rotation of outer collar 820relative to the male connector 900. In so doing, the distal ends ofdepressible member 810 and resilient member 960 will substantially closedue to their resilient nature. Subsequently, if/when furtheradministration of a medical liquid is desired utilizing female connector800 and/or male connector 900, the female connector 800 and/or maleconnector 900 may be disinfected and reconnected as described inrelation to FIG. 15A-15D.

FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate another male connector embodiment. In thisembodiment, male connector 1000 is provided for selectiveinterconnection and fluid transfer with a female connector 1100. Maleconnector 1000 includes an outer collar 1020 that is supportablydisposed about and interconnected with an internal member 1040 forselective advancement and retraction relative thereto. For example,outer collar 1020 may be slidably and rotatably disposed about internalmember 1040. In FIGS. 16 and 17, the outer collar 1020 is shown in aretracted position so that a substantially closed, distal portion of theinternal member 1040 is exposed. In this position, the distal portion ofinternal member 1040 may be readily contacted with a disinfectant. Forexample, a distal end and adjoining sidewall portion of the internalmember 1040 may be advantageously contacted by a fabric swab having adisinfectant applied thereto. As will be appreciated, the femaleconnector 1100 may also present a distal end that may also be readilyswabbed with a disinfectant prior to interconnection with the maleconnector 1000.

Referring to FIG. 17, internal member 1040 may comprise a tubular mainbody 1050 and a resilient, closed-end sheath 1060 positioned about adistal portion 1052 of the main body 1050. The main body 1050 mayfurther include an enlarged proximal portion 1054, wherein the proximalportion 1054 extends through an opening 1022 at a proximal end of theouter collar 1020. The proximal portion 1054 of main body 1050 may beprovided with an annular recess 1056 that extends about and along theproximal portion 1054 of the main body 1050. The proximal portion 1054,recess 1056 and outer collar 1020 may be sized so that a proximal endflange 1024 of the outer collar 1020 may travel along the recess 1056 asouter collar 1020 is advanced and retracted relative to internal member1040. As shown, the proximal end flange 1024 may also serve toco-axially align the outer collar 1020 and internal member 1040, and torestrict the relative range of advancement/retraction to the length ofthe recess 1056.

A proximal end of resilient sheath 1060 is restrainably engaged withinan annular groove 1058 of the main body 1050 (e.g. utilizing hoopstrength at the proximal end of sheath 1060 and/or by bonding and/or bycapture between main body 1050 and outer collar 1020). A slit 1062 mayextend through the closed, distal end of the resilient sheath 1060,wherein a distal end of the main body 1050 may forcibly penetratetherethrough. As will be further described, upon advancement of thedistal end of main body 1050 through slit 1062 at the distal end ofresilient sheath 1060, a fluid passageway extending through main body1050 may be accessed for liquid transfer to/from the female connector1100 upon interconnection therewith. Upon retraction of the distal endof main body 1050 through the slit 1062 of resilient sheath 1060, ringmember 1070 may act to facilitate the closure of the distal end ofresilient sheath 1060 at slit 1062. In this regard, the resilient natureof resilient sheath 1060 may provide the spring force for closure.

In medical applications, the proximal end 1054 of main body 1050 may beinterconnected (e.g. bonded) to a tubing line that is fluidlyinterconnected or interconnectable with one or more sources medicalliquid (e.g. liquid medication, saline solution, etc.) or with andintravascular catheter. In other arrangements, the proximal end 1054 ofmain body 1050 may be provided with a coupling member (e.g. a femaleluer connector) for selective interconnection with a compatible couplingmember (e.g. a rotatable male luer) disposed at an end of a tubing linethat is connected or connectable to one or more a medical liquidssource(s) or to an intravascular catheter.

A distal portion of the outer collar 1020 of male connector 1000 isstepped-out to matingly conform with the shape presented by the distalend of female connector 1100. Further, the outer collar 1020 is providedwith an interconnection surface 1026 for selective interconnection ofthe male connector 1010 with female connector 1100. More particularly,and as shown in FIG. 17, the interconnection surface 1026 may beinternally located proximal to the stepped-out portion, and may comprisea threaded surface 1026 that is sized/shaped for threadably engaging acomplimentary-threaded, external surface 1102 on female connector 1100,as shown in FIG. 16.

In this regard, and referring now to FIGS. 18A-18D, the use andinterconnection of male connector 1000 to female connector 1100 will bedescribed in detail. Initially, and as shown in FIG. 18A, outer collar1020 may be located in a retracted position relative to internal member1040 (e.g. via a manual, one-hand operation by a user), thereby exposinga distal end portion of internal member 1040 for application of adisinfectant thereto (e.g. via a manual, other-hand operation by theuser). Similarly, disinfectant may be applied to a distal end of aresilient member 1110 located within an opening at a distal end of atubular member 1120 comprising female connector 1100 (e.g. via a manual,two-handed operation by the user).

As shown in FIG. 18A, the resilient member 1110 of the female connector1100 may be interconnected at a proximal end to the tubular member 1120.For example, the resilient member 1110 may be interconnected at aproximal end to a base portion 1124 of tubular member 1120. The baseportion includes a proximal, tubular end that may be internally threadedfor interconnection to a compatible coupler of a tubing line (e.g.,interconnected or interconnectable to an intravascular catheter ormedical liquid source(s)). As illustrated, a fluid passageway extendsfrom the proximal end of base member 1124 to the distal end of into thetubular member 1120. Of note, the resilient member 1110 may be sizedrelative to the tubular member 1120 so that the resilient member 1110 iscaptured therein and so that a portion of the resilient member 1120 maybe deflected within the tubular member 1120 in response to beingdepressed at a distal end thereof. In other embodiments, the resilientmember 1110 may comprise a compressible material that compresses uponthe application of a force applied to a distal end thereof. In any case,due to the resilient nature of resilient member 1110 the distal endthereof is maintained in the position shown in FIG. 18A when the femalemember 1100 is not interconnected to male connector 1000.

FIGS. 18B-18D illustrate the progression of interconnection of maleconnector 1000 to female connector 1100. In FIG. 18B, outer collar 1000has been axially advanced relative to internal member 1040 (e.g. by auser holding female connector 1020 with one hand and advancing the outercollar 1020 with another hand). In the position shown in FIG. 18B, thedistal end of internal member 1040 has just contacted the distal end ofresilient member 1110.

In FIG. 18C, outer collar 1020 has been rotatably advanced onto femaleconnector 1100 (e.g. by a user holding female connector 1020 with onehand and rotatably advancing the outer collar 1020 with another hand),thereby causing the distal end of main body 1050 to forcibly penetratethrough slit 1062 of resilient sheath 1060. Such forcible penetration isadvantageously achieved jointly with the rotatable, threaded advancementof outer collar 1020 of male connector 1000 relative to female connector1100.

FIG. 18D illustrates male connector 1000 in a further interconnectedposition on female connector 1100. That is, outer collar 1020 has beenrotatably advanced to a further advanced location relative to that shownin FIG. 18C, wherein a distal end of tubular member 1120 has sealablyengaged spring-loaded, resilient sheath 1060, and wherein the distal endof main body 1050 has depressed and caused resilient member 1110 todeflect within the tubular member 1120. As will be appreciated, in thisposition fluid transfer between male connector 1000 and female connector1100 may be carried out.

For example, in medical applications a liquid medication may beadministered to a patient via the male connector 1000, female connector1100 and an intravascular catheter interconnected thereto, followed by asaline flush solution administered therethrough. Thereafter, the maleconnector 1000 and female connector 1100 may be disconnected by rotationof the outer collar 1020 relative to the female connector 1100. In sodoing, the distal ends of resilient sheath 1060 and female connector1100 will automatically close. Subsequently, if further administrationof medical liquid is desired utilizing male connector 1000 and/or femaleconnector 1100, the male connector 1000 and/or female connector 1100 maybe disinfected and reconnected as described above in relation to FIGS.18A-18D.

FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate another embodiment of an inventive femaleconnector 1200 adapted for selective interconnection and fluid transferwith a male connector 1300. In this regard, male connector 1200 issimilar to the female connector described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,816,modified to include an advanceable/retractable outer collar.

That is, male connector 1200 includes an outer collar 1220 supportablydisposed about and interconnected with an internal member 1240 forselective advancement and retraction relative thereto. In FIGS. 19 and20, the outer collar 1220 is shown in a retracted position so that asubstantially closed, distal end of the internal member 1240 is exposed.In this position, the closed, distal end of internal member 1240 may bedisinfected or otherwise cleaned. For example, the distal end ofinternal member 1240 may be advantageously contacted by fabric swabhaving a disinfectant applied thereto. As shown, male connector 1300 mayalso present a substantially closed, distal end that may be swabbed witha disinfectant prior to interconnection with female connector 1200.

Referring to FIG. 20, the internal member 1240 may include a resilientmember 1210 captured within a tubular member 1240. In the later regard,tubular member 1240 may include a proximal base portion 1244 and distalend portion 1248, wherein a fluid passageway extends from the distal endto the proximal end of the tubular member 1240. As shown, the proximalend of base portion 1224 may be provided with internal threading forselective interconnection to a compatible coupler.

Referring now to FIGS. 21A-21D, the use and interconnection of femaleconnector 1200 to male connector 1300 will be described in detail.Initially, and as shown in FIG. 21A, outer collar 1220 may be located inthe retracted position relative to internal member 1240 (e.g. via amanual, one-hand operation by a user), thereby exposing a distal end ofinternal member 1240 for application of a disinfectant thereto (e.g. viamanual, other-hand operation by the user). Similarly, a disinfectant maybe applied to a distal end of a resilient member 1360 located within anopening at a distal end of a tubular member 1320 comprising the maleconnector 1300 (e.g. via a manual, two-handed operation by the user).

As shown in FIG. 21A, the male connector 1300 may further comprise atubular main body 1350, wherein the resilient member 1360 is positionedabout a distal portion 1352 of the main body 1350. The main body 1350may further include an enlarged proximal portion 1354, wherein theproximal portion 1354 extends through an opening 1322 at a proximal endof the tubular member 1320. In the described embodiment, tubular member1320 is fixedly interconnected to the proximal portion 1354 of the mainbody 1350. However, it should be noted that in a modified arrangement,the main body 1350 and tubular member 1320 may be provided so that thetubular member 1320 may be advanced and retracted relative to the mainbody 1350. For example, the proximal portion 1354 may be provided withan annular recess 1356, wherein the proximal portion 1354, recess 1356and tubular member 1320 may be sized so that a proximal end flange 1324of the tubular member 1340 may travel along the recess 1356 as tubularmember 1340 is advanced and retracted relative to a main body 1350.

Referring further to FIG. 15A, it can be seen that a proximal end of theresilient member 1360 is restrainably engaged within a annular groove1358 of the main body 1350 (e.g. utilizing hoop strength at the proximalend of resilient member 1360 and/or bonding and/or by capture betweenmain body 1350 and tubular member 1320). A slit 1362 may extend throughthe closed, distal end of resilient member 1360.

FIGS. 21B-21D illustrate the progression of interconnection of femaleconnector 1200 to male connector 1300. In FIG. 21B, outer collar 1220 offemale connector 1200 has been advanced relative to internal member 1240distal end of internal member 1240 has just contacted the distal end ofresilient member 1360.

In FIG. 21C, outer collar 1220 has been rotatably advanced further ontomale connector 1300 (e.g. by a user holding male connector 1300 with onehand and rotatably advancing the outer collar 1220 with another hand),thereby causing the distal end of main body 1350 to forcibly-penetratethrough the slit 1362 of resilient member 1360. Such forciblepenetration is advantageously achieved in conjunction with therotatable, threaded advancement of outer collar 1220 of female connector1200 relative to male connector 1300.

FIG. 21D Illustrates female connector 1200 in a further interconnectedposition with male connector 1300. That is, outer collar 1220 has beenrotatably advanced to a further advanced position relative to that shownin FIG. 21C, wherein a distal end of tubular member 1240 has sealablyengaged spring-loaded, resilient member 1360, and wherein a distal endof main body 1350 has projected through resilient member 1360 to depressand deflect depressible member 1210 within the female connector 1200. Aswill be appreciated, in this position fluid transfer between the femaleconnector 1200 and male connector 1300 may be carried out.

For example, in medical applications a liquid medication may beadministered to a patient via the female connector 1200, male connector1300 and an intravascular catheter interconnected thereto, followed by asaline flush solution administered therethrough. Thereafter, the femaleconnector 1200 and male connector 1200 may be disconnected by rotationof outer collar 1220 relative to the male connector 1300. In so doing,the distal ends of female connector 1200 and resilient member 1360 willautomatically close. Subsequently if a further administration of medicalliquid is desired utilizing female connector 1200 and/or male connector1300, the female connector 1200 and/or male connector 1300 may bedisinfected and reconnected as described in relation to FIG. 21A-21D.

FIGS. 22 and 23 illustrate another embodiment of a female connector 1400adapted for selective interconnection and fluid transfer with a maleconnector 1500. As shown in FIG. 23, female connector 1400 includes anouter collar 1420 that is supportably disposed about and interconnectedwith an internal member 1440 for selective advancement and retractionrelative thereto. For example, outer collar 1420 may be slidably androtatably disposed about internal member 1440. In FIGS. 22 and 23 theouter collar 1420 is shown in a retracted position so that asubstantially closed, distal end of the internal member 1440 is readilyaccessible. In this position, the closed, distal end of internal member1440 may be disinfected or otherwise cleaned. For example, the distalend of internal member 1440 may be advantageously contacted by a fabricswab having a disinfectant applied thereto. As shown, the male connector1500 may be also present a closed, distal end that may be swabbed with adisinfectant prior to interconnection with female connector 1400.

Referring to FIG. 23, the internal member 1440 of female connector 1400may comprise a tubular main body 1450 that defines a fluid passageway.Further, a resilient member 1410 may be disposed about a distal end ofthe main body 1450, wherein a closed, distal end may be presented forswabbing operations. One or a series of outward projections 1452 may beprovided on the main body 1450 so as to maintain the main body 1450 inan axially centered position relative to outer collar 1420, and so as tolimit the travel of outer collar 1420 relative to main body 1450.

The outer collar 1420 is provided with an internal interconnectionsurface 1426 for selective interconnection of the female connector 1400to male connector 1500. More particularly, the internal interconnectionsurface 1426 may comprise a threaded surface that is size/shaped forthreadably engaging an interconnection surface 1502 of male connector1500 as shown in FIG. 22. In the latter regard, interconnection surface1502 of male connector 1500 may be defined by a plurality of projectionsthat are spaced around the periphery of the male connector 1500. Suchprojections 1502 are disposed at an angle to correspond with thethreading angle presented by internal interconnection surface 1426 ofthe female connector 1400. Of further note, female connector 1400includes a plurality of channels (shown by phantom lines) for slidablyreceiving the projections 1502 on male connector 1500.

Referring now to FIG. 24A, the male connector 1500 may comprise atubular shank member 1542 fixedly interconnected to a tubular member1548 and a base member 1544. For example, the shank member 1542, basemember 1544 and outer member 1548 may be integrally formed. A fluidpassageway extends from an opening 1546 at a distal end of shank member1542 to a proximal end of the base member 1544. As shown, base member1544 may be provided with a proximal, tubular end portion having aninternally threaded surface for selective interconnection with acompatible coupler (e.g. a coupler provided at an end of a tubing linethat is interconnectable with a patient IV catheter). A resilient member1550 may be disposed about the distal end of shank member 1542. Further,the resilient member 1550 may extend along and between the tubularmember 1548 and shank member 1542, wherein a proximal end of theresilient member 1550 may be interconnected to the base member 1544. Adistal end of resilient member 1550 may be slit (e.g. partially or fullypre-pierced) or piercable to allow the distal end of shank member 1542to forcibly penetrate therethrough when interconnected to femaleconnector 1400. The resilient member 1550 may be further provided withundulations 1552 so as to facilitate depression of the resilient member1550 within tubular member 1548 (e.g., in an accordion like manner), yetbias the distal end of resilient member 1550 to the position shown inFIG. 24A (i.e. substantially flush with and filling the opening at thedistal end of the tubular member 1548) when not interconnected to femaleconnector 1400.

FIGS. 24B-24D illustrate the progression of interconnection of femaleconnector 1400 and male connector 1500. In FIG. 24B, outer collar 1420of female connector 1400 has been axially advanced relative to internalmember 1440. In the position shown in FIG. 24B, the substantiallyclosed, distal end of internal member 1440 has just contacted the distalend of resilient member 1550.

In FIG. 24C, outer collar 1420 has been axially advanced on to maleconnector 1500 (e.g. by a user holding male connector 1500 with one handand advancing the outer collar 1420 with another hand). In so doing, theprojections 1502 of the male connector 1500 have been aligned withadvanced through the channels of collar 1420, as shown with phantomlines in FIG. 24C.

FIG. 24D Illustrates female connector 1400 in an interconnected positionwith male connector 1500. That is, outer collar 1420 has been rotatablyadvanced so that the threaded surface 1426 has threadably engaged theangled projections 1502. In conjunction with such action, a distal endof shank member 1542 has forcibly penetrated through resilient member1550 and sealably penetrated through resilient member 1410 to a locationwithin the distal end of main body 1450 of the female connector 1400,thereby establishing a fluid interconnection. As shown, shank member1442 may be tapered and sized relative to the distal end of main body1450 to facilitate the fluid interconnection therebetween.

As will be appreciated, in the position shown in FIG. 24D fluid transferbetween the female connector 1400 and male connector 1500 may be carriedout. For example, in medical applications, a liquid medication may beadministered to a patient via the female connector 1400, male connector1500 and an intravascular catheter interconnected thereto, followed by asaline flush solution administered therethrough. Thereafter, the femaleconnector 1400 and male connector 1500 may be disconnected by rotationof outer collar 1420 relative to the male connector 1500. In so doing,the distal ends of resilient member 1410 and resilient member 1550automatically close due to their resilient nature. Subsequently, if/whena further administration of a medical liquid is desired using femaleconnector 1400 and/or male connector 1500, female connector 1400 and/ormale connector 1500 may be disinfected and reconnected as described inrelation to FIG. 24A-24D.

FIGS. 25 and 26 illustrate another embodiment of a male connector 1600adapted for fluid connection with a female connector 1700. The maleconnector 1600 includes an outer collar 1620 that is supportablydisposed about and interconnected with an internal member 1640 forselective advancement and retraction relative thereto. For example,collar 1620 may be rotatably and slidably advanced and retractedrelative to internal member 1640. In FIGS. 25 and 26, the outer collar1620 is shown in a retracted position so that a substantially closed,distal portion of the internal member 1640 is exposed. In this position,the distal portion of internal member 1640 may be readily contacted witha disinfectant. For example, a distal end and adjoining sidewall portionof the internal member 1640 may be advantageously contacted by a fabricswab having a disinfectant applied thereto. As will be appreciated, theexemplary female connector 1700 may present a substantially closed,distal end that may also be readily swabbed with a disinfectant prior tointerconnection with the male connector 1600.

Referring to FIG. 26, internal member 1640 may comprise a tubular mainbody 1650 and closed end, resilient member 1660 interconnected to adistal portion 1652 of the main body 1650, wherein a fluid passageway isdefined through the main body 1650 and resilient member 1660. Anopenable/closeable slit 1662 may be provided at a distal end ofresilient member 1660. The main body 1650 may further include anenlarged proximal portion 1654, wherein the proximal portion 1654extends through an opening 1622 at a proximal end of the outer collar1620. The proximal portion 1654 of main body 1650 may be provided withan annular recess 1656 that extends about and along the proximal portion1654 of the main body 1650. The proximal portion 1654, recess 1656 andouter collar 1620 may be sized so that a proximal end flange 1624 of theouter collar 1620 may travel along the recess 1656 as outer collar 1620is advanced and retracted relative to internal member 1640. As shown,the proximal end flange 1624 may also serve to co-axially align theouter collar 1620 and internal member 1640, and to restrict the relativerange of advancement/retraction to the length of the recess 1656.

A proximal end of resilient member 1660 is restrainably engaged withinannular grooves 1658 of the main body 1650 (e.g. utilizing hoop strengthat the proximal end of resilient member 1660 and/or by bonding). A slit1662 may extend through the closed, distal end of the resilient member1660.

In medical applications, the proximal end 1654 of main body 1650 may beinterconnected (e.g. bonded) to a tubing line that is fluidlyinterconnected or interconnectable with one or more sources medicalliquid (e.g. liquid medication, saline solution, etc.) or with anintravascular catheter. In other arrangements, the proximal end 1654 ofmain body 1650 may be provided with a coupling member (e.g. a femaleluer connector) for selective interconnection with a compatible couplingmember (e.g. a rotatable male luer) disposed at an end of a tubing linethat is connected or connectable to one or more a medical liquidssource(s) or to an intravascular catheter.

The outer collar 1620 of male connector 1600 is provided with aninterconnection surface 1626 for selective interconnection of the maleconnector 1600 with female connector 200. More particularly, theinterconnection surface 1626 may be internally located and may comprisea threaded surface that is sized/shaped for threadably engaging acomplimentary-threaded, external surface 1702 on female connector 1700as shown in FIG. 25.

In this regard, and referring now to FIGS. 27A-27D, the use andinterconnection of male connector 1600 to female connector 1700 will bedescribed in detail. Initially, and as shown in FIG. 27A, outer collar1620 may be located in a retracted position relative to internal member1640 (e.g. via a manual, one-hand operation by a user), thereby exposinga distal end portion of internal member 1640 for application of adisinfectant thereto (e.g. via a manual, other-hand operation by theuser). Similarly, disinfectant may be applied to a distal end of aresilient member 1710 located within an opening at a distal end of atubular member 1720 comprising female connector 1700 (e.g. via a similarmanual, two-handed operation by the user).

As shown in FIG. 27A, female connector 1700 may include a tubular member1720 that is fixedly interconnected to and extends through a sidewall ofa fluid channel 1780. A distal end of tubular member 1720 extends intothe resilient member 1710. Further, the resilient member 1710 may beslit (e.g. pre-pierced) or pierceable through its distal end to allowthe distal end of tubular member 1720 to be forcibly advancedtherethrough when interconnected to male connector 1600. A spring member1750 (e.g. a helical spring) is provided to apply a spring-loading forceto resilient member 1710, wherein resilient member 1710 is maintained inthe position shown in FIG. 27A (i.e. within the distal end opening offemale connector 1700) when not interconnected to male connector 1600.

FIGS. 27B-27D illustrate the progression of interconnection of maleconnector 1600 to female connector 1700. In FIG. 27B, outer collar 1600has been advanced relative to internal member 1640 and threadablyrotated to an initial interconnection position relative to femaleconnector 1700. In the position shown in FIG. 27B, the distal end ofinternal member 1640 has just contacted the distal end of depressiblemember 1710. Of note, such an initial interconnection position may beachieved without the need to overcome any spring-loading force. Further,it may be noted that in the position shown in FIG. 24B, the maleconnector 1600 and female connector 1700 may be advantageouslymechanically interconnected without the establishment of a fluidinterconnection therebetween. Such advantages may be realized in theillustrated arrangement due to the distally offset location of thedistal end of the interconnection surface 1626 relative to the distalend of the internal member 1640 when outer collar 1620 is in an advancedposition. In other modified arrangements the distal end ofinterconnection surface 1626 may be located so as to be aligned orproximally offset relative to the distal end of internal member 1640when the outer collar 1620 is in an advanced position. As will beappreciated, such modified arrangements may provide for thecontemporaneous establishment of mechanical and fluid interconnectionsbetween the modified male connector and a female connector.

In FIG. 27C, outer collar 1620 has been rotatably onto female connector1700 to an advanced interconnection position relative to FIG. 24B (e.g.by a user holding female connector 1620 with one hand and rotatablyadvancing the outer collar 1620 with another hand), thereby causing thedistal end of internal member 1640 to depress the resilient member 1710so that the distal end of tubular member 1720 penetrates through of theresilient member 1710. Such penetration is advantageously achievedjointly with the rotatable, threaded advancement of outer collar 1620 ofmale connector 1600 relative to female connector 1700.

FIG. 27D illustrates male connector 1600 in a further interconnectedposition on female connector 1700. That is, outer collar 1620 has beenrotatably advanced to a further advanced location relative to that shownin FIG. 27C, wherein the distal ends of resilient members 1660 and 1710have sealably engaged, and wherein the distal end of tubular member 1720has penetrated entirely through resilient member 1710 and through slit1662 of resilient member 1660 to access the passageway therewithin. Aswill be appreciated, in this position fluid transfer between maleconnector 1600 and female connector 1700 may be carried out.

For example, a liquid medication may be administered to a patient viathe male connector 1600, female connector 1700 and an intravascularcatheter interconnected thereto, followed by a saline flush solutionadministered therethrough. Thereafter, the male connector 1600 andfemale connector 1700 may be disconnected by rotation of the outercollar 1620 relative to the female connector 1700. In so doing, thedistal ends of resilient member 1660 and resilient member 1710 willautomatically close due to their resilient nature. Subsequently, iffurther administration of medical liquid is desired utilizing maleconnector 1600 and/or female connector 1700, the male connector 1600and/or female connector 1700 may be disinfected and reconnected asdescribed above in relation to FIGS. 27A-27D.

The above-described embodiments and usages thereof are for exemplarypurposes only. Various modifications, extensions and adaptations of thepresent invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and areintended to be within the scope of the present invention, as defined bythe claims that follow.

1. A method for handling a first fluid connector, comprising: retractingan outer collar relative to an internal member of a first fluidconnector, said outer collar being at least selectively rotatablyadvanceable and retractable relative to said internal member; cleaningan outer surface of a distal end of said internal member with said outercollar in a retracted position relative to said internal member, whereinsaid distal end of said internal member is one of substantially closedand closeable when said fluid connector is disconnected from anotherfluid connector; advancing said outer collar of said first fluidconnector relative to said internal member thereof to an advancedposition; interconnecting said outer collar of said first fluidconnector to a second fluid connector with said outer collar in saidadvanced position, wherein said second fluid connector includes atubular member; and, opening a distal end of a fluid passagewayextending through at least a portion of said internal member of saidfirst fluid connector by forcibly penetrating a distal end of saidtubular member through a resilient member of said internal member,wherein a fluid interconnection is established.
 2. A method for handlinga first fluid connector as recited in claim 1, wherein a distal end ofsaid internal member is at least substantially flush with a distal endof said outer collar when said collar is in said retracted positionrelative thereto.
 3. A method for handling a first fluid connector asrecited in claim 2, wherein a distal portion of said internal memberprojects beyond a distal end of said outer collar and is thereby exposedwhen said outer collar is in said retracted position relative thereto.4. A method for handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 3,wherein the exposed distal portion of the internal member includes thedistal end and an adjoining sidewall portion, and wherein said cleaningstep includes: contacting the distal end and adjoining sidewall portionof the exposed distal portion with a disinfectant.
 5. A method forhandling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 4, wherein saiddistal end of said internal member includes a substantially continuoussurface that extends across the entirety of the distal end when saidfluid connector is disconnected from a another fluid connector.
 6. Amethod for handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 1,wherein said retracting step is completed by a first hand of a user, andwherein said cleaning step is completed by a second hand of said user.7. A method for handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 1,wherein said interconnecting step includes: rotating said outer collarof said first fluid connector relative to said second fluid connector.8. A method for handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 7,wherein said rotating step includes: engaging an internally threadedsurface of said outer collar of said first fluid connector with anexternally threaded surface of the second fluid connector.
 9. A methodfor handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 7, wherein saidrotating step includes: engaging an externally threaded surface of saidouter collar of said first fluid connector with an internally threadedsurface of the second fluid connector.
 10. A method for handling a firstfluid connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said interconnecting stepincludes: rotating said outer collar of said first fluid connector to aninitial interconnection position relative to said second fluidconnector, wherein a mechanical interconnection is made prior to theopening step; and, rotating the outer collar of the first fluidconnection from the initial interconnection position to an advancedinterconnection position, wherein said fluid interconnection isestablished.
 11. A method for handling a first fluid connector asrecited in claim 1, wherein said internal member includes a first memberhaving at least a portion of said fluid passageway extendingtherethrough, wherein said resilient member is disposed about a distalend of the first member, and wherein said opening step includes:forcibly penetrating a distal end of the first member through theresilient member.
 12. A method for handling a first fluid connector asrecited in claim 1, wherein said cleaning step further includes:cleaning a distal end of said second fluid connector prior to saidinterconnection step.
 13. A method for handling a first fluid connectoras recited in claim 12, wherein the distal end of said internal memberand the distal end of said second fluid connector are each substantiallyclosed during said cleaning step.
 14. A method for handling a firstfluid connector as recited in claim 13, wherein a distal portion of theinternal member projects beyond a distal end of the outer collar and isthereby exposed when the outer collar is in the retracted position, andwherein said cleaning step includes: contacting the exposed distalportion with a disinfectant.
 15. A method for handling a first fluidconnector, comprising: retracting an outer collar relative to aninternal member of a first fluid connector, said outer collar being atleast selectively rotatably advanceable and retractable relative to saidinternal member; cleaning an outer surface of a distal end of saidinternal member with said outer collar in a retracted position relativeto said internal member, wherein said distal end of said internal memberis one of substantially closed and closeable when said fluid connectoris disconnected from another fluid connector; interconnecting the firstfluid connector to a second fluid connector by rotatably advancing theouter collar with respect to the internal member; and disconnecting thefirst fluid connector from the second fluid connector by rotatablyretracting the outer collar with respect to the internal member from anadvanced interconnection position to an initial interconnectionposition, wherein a mechanical interconnection is maintained between thefirst fluid connector and the second fluid connector and said fluidinterconnection between the first fluid connector and the second fluidconnector is terminated, and further rotatably retracting the outercollar with respect to the internal member, wherein said first fluidconnector and said second fluid connector mechanically disconnect.
 16. Amethod for handling a first fluid connector as recited in claim 15,wherein said interconnecting step includes: rotating the outer collar ofthe first fluid connector to said initial interconnection positionrelative to the second fluid connector, wherein a mechanicalinterconnection is made prior to establishing a said fluidinterconnection; and rotating the outer collar of the first fluidconnection from the initial interconnection position to said advancedinterconnection position, wherein said fluid interconnection isestablished between the first fluid connector and the second fluidconnector.
 17. A method for handling a first fluid connector as recitedin claim 15, further comprising: repeating said retracting, cleaning,interconnecting, and disconnecting steps.
 18. A method for handling afirst fluid connector, comprising: retracting an outer collar relativeto an internal member of a first fluid connector; cleaning an outersurface of a distal end of said internal member with said outer collarin a retracted position relative to said internal member; advancing saidouter collar of said first fluid connector relative to said internalmember thereof to an advanced position; interconnecting said outercollar of said first fluid connector to a second fluid connector withsaid outer collar in said advanced position, wherein saidinterconnecting step includes: rotating said outer collar of said firstfluid connector to an initial interconnection position relative to saidsecond fluid connector, wherein a mechanical interconnection is madeprior to establishing a fluid interconnection; and, rotating the outercollar of the first fluid connection from the initial interconnectionposition to an advanced interconnection position, wherein said fluidinterconnection is established between said first fluid connector andsaid second fluid connector.
 19. A method for handling a first fluidconnector as recited in claim 18, wherein said fluid interconnectionincludes: opening a distal end of a fluid passageway extending throughat least a portion of said internal member of said first fluidconnector.
 20. A method for handling a first fluid connector as recitedin claim 19, wherein said internal member includes a first member havingat least a portion of said fluid passageway extending therethrough, anda resilient second member disposed about a distal end of the firstmember, and wherein said opening step includes: forcibly penetrating adistal end of the first member through the second member.
 21. A methodfor handling a first fluid connector, comprising: retracting an outercollar relative to an internal member of a first fluid connector;cleaning an outer surface of a distal end of said internal member withsaid outer collar in a retracted position relative to said internalmember; advancing said outer collar of said first fluid connectorrelative to said internal member thereof to an advanced position;interconnecting said outer collar of said first fluid connector to asecond fluid connector with said outer collar in said advanced position,wherein said second fluid connector includes a tubular member;establishing a fluid interconnection between said first fluid connectorand said second fluid connector by opening a distal end of a fluidpassageway extending through at least a portion of said internal memberof said first fluid connector, wherein said opening includes forciblypenetrating a distal end of said tubular member through a resilientmember of said first fluid connector.